Man Smashes Vase Worth $1M in Miami Museum

A Florida artist could face up to five years in prison for destroying a very valuable work of art at the new Miami museum.

51-year-old Maximo Caminero was charged with criminal mischief[1] after smashing a vase by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei at the Perez Art Museum Miami. The local artist said that the act was in protest against the museum’s decision to showcase international art over local art.

A security guard at the Miami museum asked the man to put down the vase but Caminero decided to smash it anyway. The painter could be looking at up to five years in prison as criminal mischief can be a third-degree felony when the property damaged is worth over $1,000.

Caminero said that he will hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon where he will “answer all the questions.”